County Advisory Committee on Women Extends Deadline for Seeds of Change Award Nominees

Published on July 24, 2019

Deadline for Submissions is Aug. 15 €” Highlights and Celebrate Women Who Build Up and Inspire Other Women

Inspired by the example of the late State Sen. Leanna Brown, who was a groundbreaking female political leader in Morris County, the Morris County Advisory Committee on Women will award its second Seeds of Change award this fall to a woman who has worked to improve our community, and been a leader and inspiration for other women in the county.

The Seeds of Change Award recalls the example of the late Leanna Brown(, 0B) The Seeds of Change Award honors the groundbreaking leadership of the late Leanna Brown

The Committee is seeking nominations for the award, and has extended its deadline for submissions to Aug. 15.

The Seeds of Change Award seeks to highlight and celebrate women who build up other women. Often it is those who work at the roots levels who go unrecognized, but the Morris County Advisory Committee on Women would like to demonstrate its appreciation for those grassroots efforts through this new Freeholder Award.

The recipient of the Seeds of Change Award must meet the following required criteria:

  • Age 18 or above;
  • A woman residing in Morris County;
  • Active in grassroots efforts to advance a women's-focused cause in Morris County;
  • Be a volunteer or participate in community activities connected to women's-focused causes.

It is preferred, but not required, that the recipient be linked with a cause of current interest to the Advisory Committee on Women. Current areas of interest include housing and homelessness, human trafficking, incarcerated women, and women in the military or female veterans. Nominations will be sought from community and civic groups, government and nonprofit agencies, and for-profit organizations throughout Morris County.

The first Seeds of Change Award'' was presented in 2018 to Lila Bernstein of Mendham Township.

(l/r) Freeholder Deborah Smith, William Brown, son of the late Leanna Brown, Freeholder Kathy DeFillippo, 2018 Seeds of Change Award recipient Lila Berstein, and Freeholder Director Doug Cabana(JPG, 163KB) (l/r) Freeholder Deborah Smith, William Brown, son of the late Leanna Brown, Freeholder Kathy DeFillippo, 2018 Seeds of Change Award recipient Lila Berstein, and Freeholder Director Doug Cabana

Lila Bernstein's record of accomplishment is extensive. She has been very active in many organizations, such as the Morris County Youth Services Advisory Committee, Mendham Township Library, Morris County Child Placement Review Board, N.J. Child Placement Advisory Council, Jewish Family Service's Rachel Coalition, National Council of Jewish Women, and the Jewish Women's Foundation of N.J., among others.

In 1972, Leanna Brown became the first woman elected as a Morris County Freeholder, and the second women to serve in that capacity (Margaret D. Baker was appointed in 1932 to fill an unexpired term). Following her freeholder term, Leanna Brown went on to serve in many other important capacities. She was the first Republican women to serve in the New Jersey State Senate. She was a driving force behind the creation of the Morris County Advisory Committee on Women.

Nominations for the Seeds of Change Award should be submitted by email to Allison Delcalzo-Berens at allison.delcalzo@atlantichealth.org. For more information, please contact Gayle Pearson at 201-874-7687 or g.pearson@rutgers.edu.

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